In other news, I went out for pints with Vern last night and kicked his ass at bubble-hockey. Also, he asked whether I'd gotten the new Harper's. I said that I had. "The lead article is by John Raulston Saul," said Vern.

"What?" I asked. "I guess I haven't gotten it yet." I then went on to mention an article in the most recent issue I had received, an superb piece on the "end of Globalism". (For once, something about which to be optimistic in Harper's.)

Vern shook his head with affectionate pity. "That's the article I'm talking about," he said.

I hung my head in shame and mumbled something to the effect that I at least wasn't guilty of pre-judging the piece based on the author.